Another Busy Migrant Day ~ May 13, 2026

The weather forecast was for some showers to move in around noon, similar to what happened on the 9th when there was a really good movement of birds before the rain arrived. I decided to head back to National Park Drive to see if there would be a repeat result. Before that, I did a little birding in the Kirkridge area and had 2 Common Nighthawks fly by, but not much else was seen.

Instead of parking along National Park Drive and walking back to the old farm, I drove to the end of the road and birded the divided road area. It was really active there. Soon after, Adam Smith showed up and we spent about an hour in one area watching migrants flitting around in the surrounding trees and brush. I ended up with 15 warbler species among 47 total species that included 2 Hoodeds, a Blue-winged, 2 Black-and-whites, 3 Tennessees, 2 Cape Mays, a Magnolia, 2 Chestnut-sideds, a Blackpoll, 2 Ovenbirds, a Louisiana Waterthrush, 2 Common Yellowthroats, 3 American Redstarts, and 2 Northern Parulas.

Tennessee Warbler

Cape May Warbler

There were also at least 13 Yellow-rumped Warblers, but it was interesting to see one female with a stick in its beak! Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of it before it flew off. However, I WAS able to get a photo of a female Black-throated Green Warbler with nesting material in her beak!

A female Black-throated Green Warbler carrying nesting material.

Could both of these species being nesting south of the ridge? Other notables were Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, Common Raven, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Chipping, Field, and White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Cedar Waxwing

Scarlet Tanager

I went back up to Kirkridge to see if that was as active, but it was now almost 11:00. While there, I saw an adult Red-tailed Hawk circling with a Gray Squirrel in its grasp.

A Red-tailed Hawk with an unlucky Gray Squirrel.

I then went to Lake Minsi where I found a Wood Duck, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Common Loon, 6 Double-crested Cormorants, a Green Heron, a Pileated Woodpecker, a Great Crested Flycatcher, a Yellow-throated and 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 34 Purple Martins, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, a Veery, a Baltimore Oriole, a Scarlet Tanager, an Ovenbird, an American Redstart, a Northern Yellow Warbler, and a Canada Warbler.

Canada Warbler

The Tatamy Exit retention pond was pretty busy with 5 Semipalmated Plovers, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, a Solitary Sandpiper, one Greater and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 24 Least Sandpipers, and a Great Blue Heron.

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